Exactly 106 years ago, on November 6, 1919, the iconic Ukrainian carol “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych was performed for the first time in Paris. The piece was introduced by the Ukrainian Republican Capella, led by renowned conductor Oleksandr Koshyts.
🎶 The premiere was held in the esteemed Salle Gaveau concert hall, one of the cultural landmarks of the French capital. The audience included prominent figures such as Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, members of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission headed by Mykhailo Tyshkevych, as well as members of the French political, artistic, and academic elite.
📰 The next day, Parisian newspapers praised the performance, calling it an outstanding success:
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“No choir — neither French nor foreign — has ever presented anything like this here”;
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“The concerts of the Ukrainian National Choir bordered on perfection and belong to the highest artistic class.”
🎓 Professor Charles Seignobos of the Sorbonne wrote an open letter to conductor Koshyts, stating:
“Your choristers exceeded all my expectations… I last felt something similar in Munich while listening to Wagner. No propaganda could be more effective in promoting the recognition of the Ukrainian nation.”
💬 This historic performance marked not only a milestone in Ukraine’s musical legacy but also a moment of powerful cultural diplomacy, bringing international attention to the identity and spirit of the Ukrainian people.